Why Do I Have Thinning Hair?

As with many medical issues, there can be many reasons why you have thinning hair. From stress, to hair-styling products, to your diet and your genes, it's important to know the culprit behind your lacklustre locks.

You're stressed

If your 9-5 is making you feel zero, physical and/or emotional stress can wreak havoc on your system. Usually, there's a three-month delay between particularly stressful circumstances and your hair falling out, but the correlation between stress and hair loss is well-documented. Why? Because, when stressed, your body enters 'fight or flight' mode, producing extra hormones to send around your body — which affects the growth of hair follicles on your scalp.

Your diet

It's true — you are what you eat. As you'll know by now, your nutrition is directly responsible for the shape and the function of your body — from your moods to your metabolism — but did you know that it can affect your hairline, too? That's because hair loss can be caused by dietary deficiencies that can come from a restrictive diet — from 'Keto' to 'Paleo' to 'Carnivore' and more — as you're depriving your body from certain nutrients that can be found in food groups. Similarly, if you're not eating enough protein, it's your hair that will suffer, as hair is made from protein. Omega 3s and Vitamins A and D can all help build a healthier scalp, so foods like salmon, eggs and nuts all need to be on your shopping list.

Your genes

Blame your parents for this one, because male pattern baldness runs in the family. If you're losing your hair, male pattern baldness is caused by your body becoming increasingly sensitive to androgens — male sex hormones that regulate development and maintenance of male characteristics and reproductive activity. The extent to which your scalp is affected by this process is hereditary, so fighting thinning hair may be an uphill battle for some.

You're anaemic

A lack of iron, anaemia, can seriously affect your hair growth. As with the lack of correct nutrients in your diet (explained above), making sure your diet is nutrient-rich is important for both fighting hair loss and maintaining energy levels. Unfortunately, this will be more difficult for vegetarians and vegans, but leafy greens like spinach, beans and lentils can all help. That said, steak and other red meats come out on top when it comes to upping your iron intake.

Your hair follicles

If you've spent years styling (and re-styling your hair), your scalp may have become a bit of a warzone. So if your scalp is looking or feeling unhealthy, chances are that your hairs will be following suit. Consider using clarifying shampoos, like the one below, to get rid of the debris from your scalp, including dead skin cells and oil.

Symptoms of Thinning Hair

There's more to male hair loss than you're likely to realise. It's not all about thinning crowns and slowly-emerging bald patches, but instead about where you're losing your hair how quickly and by how much.

Symptoms of thinning hair include circular and patchy bald spots, scaling that spreads across the scalp, hair loss across your body (it isn't just about your scalp, you know) and sudden loss of hair; which can be particularly noticeable when you're showering, shaving or styling your hair. Of course, a gradual thinning on top of your head is most likely to go un-noticed, so be sure to pay attention.

Getty ImagesPongsak Tawansaeng / EyeEm

3 Types of Hair Loss

Telogen effluvium

Stressful circumstances and events pushs large numbers of hair follicles into a 'resting phase', says the Mayo Clinic. 'Within a few months, affected hairs might fall out suddenly when simply combing or washing your hair.'

Trichotillomania

Not every man will experience this when dealing with hair loss or thinning hair, but 'Trichotillomania' is 'an irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body', a direct reaction to negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as anxiety, unhappiness, boredom, tension, frustration or loneliness.

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is when the body's immune system 'attacks' hair follicles, causing hair loss. It's thought to be caused by extreme stress.

Expert and Celebrity Advice on Thinning Hair

If you're worried about your rate of hair growth or thinning hair, there's plenty of advice — from dermatologists to scientists to Hollywood celebrities — that is likely to resonate with you. Below are five of favourites, each armed to the teeth with expert advice, anecdotal tips and real-world stories.

Make Your Hair Thicker

1. Wash Your Hair

Many men worry that the more they wash their hair the more they'll lose but in reality washing actually thickens hair because dirty, greasy hair lies flat and looks ‘gappy'. For best results use a regular use shampoo like Head & Shoulders Anti-Dandruff Shampoo For Men and wash with warm water (hot water dries out the hair and scalp). Just don't make these grooming mistakes.

4. Use the Right Styling Products

If you're using heavy waxes and gels on thinning hair you're not doing it any favours. "These can weigh hair down making it look thin and flat," says Enzo Volpe, stylist at Michael John salon. "The most effective styling product to give hair volume is mousse, along with sprays developed to give the hair "root lift."

5. Pack in the Fags

According to a study by Harvard School of Public Health in America, smoking not only increases levels of hormones that can trigger hair loss, it also constricts the tiny blood vessels that supply the scalp, starving your hair of the nutrients it needs for growth. Stub it out to stop it falling out.

6. Put the Wind up Your Hair

Blow-drying is a good way to give fine hair more volume but don't flame-grill it or you'll damage your hair's natural proteins, making it brittle. Use the drier's 'cool button' to protect your locks.

7. Protect Your Pate

Allowing your bonce to bake in scorching heat is a recipe for hair-loss disaster. As well as making hair brittle and fragile, sunburn causes the scalp to produce a compound called superoxide that can cause hair follicles to switch from a growth phase to a shedding one.

8. Don't Be so Rough

Human hair is three times weaker when wet and over-combing or rough towel drying can damage it and cause snapping – the last thing you want if you're already a bit thin on top. Instead, let hair dry naturally or gently pat dry and style with your fingers to give it more texture.

9. Stock up on Soya

New research shows that a molecule produced in the intestine when soya is digested could halt the balding process because it blocks the effect of the hormone that triggers hair loss. Worth a try and a lot better than most supposed baldness cures (like getting cows to lick your head).

10. Get a Better Cut

Many men try to deal with baldness by growing their hair or playing with partings when in reality a shorter cut is always more flattering, so go for a classic crop or an unstructured one if you've still got some hair to play with. Both will help make it look denser and draw attention away from your hair loss and towards your face.

"If your hair's not as thick as it used to be ask your stylist about slicing and brick cutting," suggests Jen Deighton, Art Director of Toni & Guy in Sunderland. "If done finely these cutting techniques can create a more textured finish which will, in turn, make hair appear thicker."

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